Shoe-lace fastener.



PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

G. H. NIOHOLLS.

SHOE LACE FASTENER.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 18, 1907.

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UNITED STATES GEORGE H. NIOHOLLS, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed August 16. 1907 Serial No. 388,799.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE I-IABBERTON NicHoLLs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented an Improvement in Shoe-Lace Fasteners, of

the tendency to become unf'astened when in wear.

The invention embodies a stud having a head provided with a transverse opening and which is secured to the free end of the tongue and adapted for engagement with the lace proper, which is preferably provided with a series of slits or slots.

The details of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts are as hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the main portion of a shoe provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stud forming the main feature of the fastener. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of the tongue of a shoe with the stud attached. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the ends of the lace as applied to the stud in the first stage of the operation of securing the lace. Fig. 5 is a face or plan view showing the ends of the lace as secured in the final operation. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modification in the lace and in the manner of securing it tothe stud.

Referring in the first instance to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A indicates the stud, and the tongue of a boot or shoe to which said stud is secured. In this instance, the head and shank of the stud are shown projecting through a slot in the tongue, the stud having an enlarged base a. in disk form which rests in contact with the underside of the tongue. Said base is, however, provided with openings, as shown in Fig. 2, to adapt it for being secured to the tongue by sewing it thereto, and in such case it would preferably be arranged on the outer side of the tongue.

The head of the stud is provided with a transverse opening a and the top of the head is somewhat flattened or rounded as shown.

The opening or passage a is of suficient size to receive both ends of the lace C, when arranged as shown in Fig. 5, and hereinafter described.

The preferred form of lace is constructed as shown in my United States Patent No. 780,377, dated Jan. 17, 1905, the same being provided with a series of holes or longitudinal slits arranged in alinement, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the boot or shoe has been laced up, the ends 0 of the lace Csee Fig. l-are crossed and the head of the stud A is passed through slits in the same. This completes the first stage of lacing the shoe. Then the ends (2 are passed in opposite directions through the opening a in the head of the stud, which completes the operation. Thus the lace C appears in the usual bow form or bow-knot, as shown in Fig. 5. By this arrangement the ends of the lace are prevented from slipping and becoming unfastened as they tend to do by contact and friction with the edge of the trousers, while the slitted portions of the lace on the stud prevent the tongue B becoming displaced laterally or slipping down or wrinkling as is its tendency when left free in the usual way.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show the usual form of lace, when unprovided with slits or slots, applied and secured to a stud A. In Fig. 6 the first stage of the operation is shown, in which the ends of the lace C are twisted together or tied on opposite sides of the stud. In Fig. 6 the attachment is shown in a loose form, and in Fig. 7 the fastening has been tightened, as may be done by pulling on the extremities of the lace, or on the body portions thereof. Thus the lace is tied around the shank of the stud A and the extremities are then passed through the opening in the stud, as shown by dotted lines and in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 5.

hat I claim is:

The combination with the tongue and uppers of a lacing boot or shoe, of a stud attached to and projecting outwardly from the tongue and provided with a head having a transverse opening, and a lace having a series of longitudinal slits adapted to receive the head of the stud, substantially as described.

GEORGE H. NICHOLLS.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMoN, AMos W. HART. 

